UC-NRLF 


it  f  LYING  STA&  PL/VVS        NO.  3 


'MONT  Attt'NS 


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THE    FLYING    STAG    PLAYS 

For     The     Little     Theatre 


NO. 


THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 


COPYRIGHT,  1918,  BY 

EGMONT    ARENS. 

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED. 


The  professional  and  amateur  stage  rights  on 
this  play  are  strictly  reserved  by  the  author.  Ap 
plications  for  permission  to  produce  the  play 
should  be  made  to  the  Provincetown  Players,  139 
MacDougal  Street,  New  York. 

While  it  is  hoped  that  the  publication  of  the 
plays  in  this  series  will  encourage  their  produc 
tion  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  it  is  held  that  the 
interests  of  the  New  Theater  movement  can  best 
be  served  by  vigorous  protection  of  the  play 
wrights,  without  whom  the  movement  cannot  go 
forward. 

Therefore  any  infringement  of  the  author's 
rights  will  be  punished  by  the  penalties  imposed 
under  the  United  States  Revised  Statutes,  Title 
60,  Chapter  3. 

THE  PUBLISHER. 


The  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

A  Play  in  One  Act  by  Floyd 
Dell  v  v  as  played  by  the 
Provincetown  Players. 


Published   by   EGMONT   ARENS   at  the 

Washington  Square  Bookshop   V  New  York 
1918 


TIME: 

The  present. 

PLACE: 
THE  PROLOGUE: 

Washington  Square,  New  York  City. 

THE  PLAY: 

Jimmy   Pendleton's    Studio   in    Macdougal 
Alley. 

THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES  was  first  produced  by  the 
Provincetown  Players,  on  December  28th,  1917, 
with  the  following  cast : 

A  POLICEMAN       -  Abram  Gillette 

THE  ANGEL James  Light 

JIMMY  PENDLETON       -        -        -    Justus  Sheffield 
ANNABELLE     -  Edna  St.  Vincent  Millay 

Scenes  by  Floyd  Dell  and  Neal  Reber.  Directed 
by  Nina  Moise  and  Floyd  Dell. 


THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 


THE  PROLOGUE: 

Washington  Square  by  moonlight.  A  stream  ef 
Greenwich  Villagers  hurrying  across  to  the 
Brevoort  before  the  doors  are  locked.  In 
their  wake  a  sleepy  policeman. 

The  Policeman  stops  suddenly  on  seeing  an  Angel 
with  shining  garments  and  great  white  wings, 
who  has  just  appeared  out  of  nowhere. 

THE   POLICEMAN 
Hey,  you! 

THE   ANGEL 

[Haughtily,  turning. ] 
Sir!     Are  you  addressing  me? 

THE   POLICEMAN 

[Severely.] 
Yes,  an'  I've  a  good  mind  to  lock  you  up. 

THE   ANGEL 

[Surprised  and  indignant.] 

How  very  inhospitable!  Is  that  the  way  you 
treat  strangers? 

THE   POLICEMAN 

Don't  you  know  it's  agen  the  law  of  New  York 
to  parade  the  streets  in  a  masquerade  cos 
tume? 

THE   ANGEL 

No.  I  didn't  know.  You  see,  I  just  arrived 
this  minute  from  Heaven. 

THE   POLICEMAN 
Ye  look  it.  «>£  1  7 


6  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

THE   POLICEMAN 

[Taking  his  arm  kindly.] 

See  here,  me  lad,  you've  been  drinkin'  too 
many  of  them  stingers.  Ye'd  better  take  a 
taxi  and  go  home. 

THE   ANGEL 
What!     So  soon? 

THE   POLICEMAN 

I  know  how  ye  feel.  I've  been  that  way  me- 
self.  But  I  can't  leave  ye  go  trapesin'  about 
in  skirts. 

THE   ANGEL 
[Drawing  away.] 

Sir,  I  am  not  trapesing  about.  I  am  attend 
ing  to  important  business,  and  I  must  ask  you 
not  to  detain  me. 

THE   POLICEMAN 
[Suspiciously.] 

Not  so  fast,  me  laddie-buck.  What  business 
have  you  at  this  hour  of  the  night?  Tell  me 
that. 

THE  ANGEL 

I  don't  mind  telling  you.  It  concerns  a  mor 
tal  called  James  Pendleton. 

THE   POLICEMAN 

[Genial,  again.] 

Aha!  So  you're  a  friend  of  Jimmy  Pendle- 
ton's,  are  you? 

THE   ANGEL 
Not  exactly.     I  am  his  Guardian  Angel. 

THE   POLICEMAN 

Well,  faith,  he  needs  one!  Come,  me  boy,  I'll 
see  ye  safe  to  his  door. 


FLOYD   DELL  7 

THE  ANGEL 

Thank  you.     But,  if  you  don't  mind,  I  prefer 
to  go  alone. 

[He  turns  away.] 

THE   POLICEMAN 
Goodnight  to  you,  then. 

[He  idly  watches  the  angelic  figure  walk 
away,  and  then  stares  with  amazement  as 
it  spreads  its  wings  and  soars  to  the  top 
of  Washington  Arch.  Pausing  there  a 
moment,  it  soars  again  in  the  air,  and  is 
seen  wafting  its  way  over  the  neighbor 
ing  housetops  to  the  northeast.  The  Po 
liceman  shakes  his  head  in  disapproval.] 

THE  PLAY: 

Jimmy  Pendleton  is  dosing  in  an  easy  chair  be 
fore  the  grate-fire  in  his  studio  in  Washing 
ton  Mews.  A  yellow-backed  French  novel 
has  fallen  from  his  knee1  to  the  floor.  It  is 
Anatole  France's  "La  Revolte  des  Anges."  A 
clock  strikes  somewhere.  Jimmy  Pendleton 
awakes. 

JIMMY 
What  a  queer  dream! 

[He  looks  at  his  watch.] 
One  o'clock.     The  taxi  ought  to  be  here. 

[He  takes  two  tickets  from  his  pocket,  looks 
at  them,  and  puts  them  back.     Then  he 
commences    to    pace    nervously    up    and 
down  the  room,  muttering  to  himself.] 
Fool!  Idiot!  Imbecile! 

[He  is,  not  so  that  you  could  notice  it,  any  of 
these  things;  he  is  a  very  handsome 
man  of  forty.  There  is  the  blast  of  an 
auto  horn  outside.  He  makes  an  angry 
gesture.] 


8  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

Too  late!     That's  the  taxi. 

[But  he  stands  uncertainly  in  the  middle  of 
the  floor.     There  is  a  hard  pounding  of 
the  knocker.] 
Yes,  yes! 

[He  makes  a  movement  toward  the  door, 
where  it  suddenly  opens,  and  a  lovely 
lady  enters.  He  stares  at  her  in  surprise.} 

JIMMY 
Annabelle! 

[Annabelle  is  little.  Annabelle 's  petulant  up 
turned  lips  are  rosebud  red.  Annabelle's 
round  eyes  are  baby-blue.  Annabelle  is — 
young.] 

ANNABELLE 
Yes!  It's  me! 

[There  is  a  tiny  lisp  in  Annabelle's  speech.] 
I  got  tired  of  waiting,  and  the  door  was  un 
locked,  so  I  came  right  in. 

JIMMY 
Well!! 

ANNABELLE 
[Hurt.] 
Aren't  you  glad  to  see  me? 

JIMMY 

I'm — delighted.       But — but — I     thought    we 
were  to  meet  at  the  station. 

ANNABELLE 
So  we  were. 

JIMMY 
You  haven't  changed  your  mind? 

ANNABELLE 
No.  .  . 

JIMMY 
Er — good. 


FLOYD   DELL  9 

ANNABELLE 
But.  .  . 

JIMMY 
Yes .  .  .  ? 

ANNABELLE 
I  got  to  wondering.  .  . 

[Drifts  to  the  easy  chair  in  front  of  the  fire.] 

JIMMY 

Wondering.  .  .about  what? 
[He  looks  at  his  watch.] 

ANNABELLE 
About  love.  .  . 

JIMMY 
Well.  .  . 

[He  lights  a  cigarette.] 

It's  a  subject  that  can  stand  a  good  deal  of 
wondering  about.  I've  wondered  about  it  my 
self. 

ANNABELLE 

That's  just  it — you  speak  so  cynically  about 
it.  I  don't  believe  you're  in  love  with  me  at 
all! 

JIMMY 
Nonsense!     Of  course  I'm  in  love  with  you. 

ANNABELLE 
[Sadly.] 
No,  you're  not. 

JIMMY 
[Angrily.] 
But,  I  tell  you,  I  am! 

ANNABELLE 
No.  .  . 

JIMMY 
Foolish  child! 

ANNABELLE 
Well,  let's  not  quarrei  about  it  now. 


10  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

JIMMY 

[Vehemently.] 

What  do  you  suppose  this  insanity  is  if  it  isn't 
love?  What  do  you  imagine  leads  me  to  this 
preposterous  elopement,  if  not  that  prepos 
terous  passion?  What  makes  you  come  with 
me  in  spite  of  the  way  I  talk?  Tell  me  that! 

ANNABELLE 
Perhaps  I'm  not  coming. 

JIMMY 

Yes  you  are.  It's  foolish — mad — wicked — 
but  you're  coming. 

[She  begins  to  cry  softly.] 

If  not — ten  minutes  away  is  safety  and  peace 
and  comfort.  Shall  I  call  a  taxi  for  you? 

[She  shakes  her  head.] 
No.     I  thought  not.     Oh,  it's  love  all  right. 

ANNABELLE 
I  hate  you! 

JIMMY 
[Cheerfully.] 
That's  all  right. 

[Smiling.] 

I  rather  hate  you  myself.  And  that's  the  final 
proof  that  this  is  love. 

ANNABELLE 

[Sobbing.] 

I  thought  love  was  something  quite — differ 
ent! 

JIMMY 

You  thought  it  was  beautiful.  It  isn't.  It's 
just  blithering,  blathering  folly.  We'll  both 
regret  it  tomorrow. 

ANNABELLE 
I  won't! 


FLOYD   DELL  11 

JIMMY 

Yes  you  will.  It's  human  nature.  Face  the 
facts. 

ANNABELLE 
[Tearfully.] 

Pacing  the  facts  is  one  thing  and  being  in 
love  is  another. 

JIMMY 

Quite  so.  Well,  how  long  do  you  think  your 
love  for  me  will  last? 

ANNABELLE 
For  ever! 

JIMMY 

H-m!  I  predict  that  you  will  fall  in  love  with 
the  next  man  you  meet. 

ANNABELLE 
I  think  you're  perfectly  horrid. 

JIMMY 

So  do  I.  I  disapprove  of  myself  violently. 
I'm  a  doddering  lunatic,  incapable  of  thinking 
of  anything  but  you.  I  can't  work.  I  can't 
eat.  I  can't  sleep.  I'm  no  use  to  the  world. 
I'm  not  a  man,  I'm  a  mess.  I'm  about  to  do 
something  silly  because  I  can't  do  anything 
else. 

ANNABELLE 
[Pouting.] 
You've  no  respect  for  me. 

JIMMY 

None  whatever.  I  love  you.  And  I'm  going 
to  carry  you  off. 

ANNABELLE 
You're  a  brute. 

JIMMY 

Absolutely.  I'd  advise  you  to  go  straight 
home. 


12  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

ANNABELLE 
[Defiantly.] 
Perhaps  I  shall! 

JIMMY 
Then  go  quick. 

[He  takes  out  his  watch.] 

In  one  minute,  if  you  are  still  here,  I  shall 
pick  you  up  and  carry  you  off  to  South  Amer 
ica.  Quick!  There's  the  door! 

ANNABELLE 
[Faintly.] 

I — I  want  to  go ... 

JIMMY 
Well,  why  don't  you?.  .  .Thirty  seconds! 

ANNABELLE 
I — I  can't! 

JIMMY 

[Shutting  his  watch.] 
Time's  up.     The  die  is  cast! 

[He  lifts  her  from  the  chair.    She  clings  to 

him  helplessly.] 

My  darling!  My  treasure!  My  beloved! 
Idiot  that  I  am! 

[He  kisses  her  fiercely.] 

ANNABELLE 
[Struggling  in  his  arms.] 
No!  No!  No!     Stop! 

JIMMY 

Never! 

ANNABELLE 
Stop!  Please!   Please!   Oh!... 

[The  light  suddenly  goes  out,  and  an  instant 
later  blazes  up  again,  revealing  the 
Angel,  who  has  suddenly  arrived  in  the 
middle  of  the  room.  The  two  of  them 
stare  at  the  apparition.] 


FLOYD   DELL  13 

THE   ANGEL 
I  hope  I  am  not  intruding? 
JIMMY 
Why — why — not  exactly! 

THE  ANGEL 
If  I  am ... 

JIMMY 
No,  really.  .  . 

ANNABELLE 

[In  his  arms,  indignantly.] 
Jimmy!  Who  is  that  man? 

JIMMY 

[Becoming    aware    of   her    and   putting    her 

down  carefully.} 
I — why — why,  the  fact  is,  I  don't.  .  . 

THE  ANGEL 
The  fact  is,  madame,  I  am  his  Guardian  Angel. 

ANNABELLE 
An  Angel!  Oh! 

THE  ANGEL 
Tell  me,  have  I  intruded? 

ANNABELLE 
No,  not  at  all! 

THE   ANGEL 

Thank  you  for  reassuring  me.  I  feared  for  a 
moment  that  I  had  made  an  inopportune  en 
trance.  I  was  about  to  suggest  that  I  with 
draw  until  you  had  finished  the — er — cere 
mony — which  I  seem  to  have  interrupted. 

JIMMY 
[Surprised.] 

But  wasn't  that  what  you  came  for — to  in 
terrupt? 

THE  ANGEL 
I  beg  your  pardon! 


14  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

JIMMY 

[Bewilder  edly.] 

I  mean — if  you  are  my  Guardian  Angel,  and 
all  that  sort  of  thing,  you  must  have  come  to 
— to  interfere! 

THE   ANGEL 

I  hope  you  will  not  think  I  would  be  capable 
of  such  presumption. 

JIMMY 
[Puzzled.} 
You  don't  want  to — so  to  speak — reform  me? 

THE  ANGEL 
Not  at  all.    Why,  I  scarcely  know  you! 

JIMMY 
But  you're  my — my  Guardian  Angel,  you  say? 

THE   ANGEL 

Ah,  yes,  to  be  sure.  But  the  relation  of  an 
gelic  guardianship  has  for  some  hundreds  of 
years  been  a  purely  nominal  one.  We  have 
come  to  feel  that  it  is  best  to  allow  mortals 
to  attend  to  their  own  affairs. 

JIMMY 

[Abruptly.} 
Then,  what  did  you  come  for? 

THE   ANGEL  • 

For  a  change.  One  becomes  tired  of  familiar 
scenes.  And  I  thought  that  perhaps  my  rela 
tionship  to  you  might  serve  in  lieu  of  an  in 
troduction.  I  wanted  to  be  among  friends. 

JIMMY 
Oh,  I  see. 

ANNABELLE 

Of  course.  We're  delighted  to  have  you  with 
us.  Won't  you  sit  down? 

[She  leads  the  way  to  the  fire.} 


FLOYD  DELL  15 

THE   ANGEL 

[Perching   on   the   arms   of  one   of   the   big 

chairs.] 
If  you  don't  mind!     My  wings,  you  know. 

JIMMY 

[Hesitantly.] 
Have  a  cigarette? 

THE  ANGEL 
Thank  you. 

[He  takes  one.] 

I  am  most  anxious  to  learn  the  more  impor 
tant  of  your  earthly  arts  and  sciences.  Please 
correct  me  if  I  go  wrong.  This  is  my  first 
attempt,  remember. 

[He  blows  out  a  puff  of  smoke.] 
ANNABELLE 

[From  the  settle.] 
You're  doing  it  very  nicely. 

THE   ANGEL 
It  is  incense  to  the  mind. 

ANNABELLE 

[Laughingly,    blowing    a    series    of    smoke 

rings.] 
You  must  learn  to  do  it  like  this! 

THE   ANGEL 
[In  awe.] 

That  is  too  wonderful  an  art.  I  fear  I  can 
never  learn  it! 

ANNABELLE 
I  will  teach  you. 

THE   ANGEL 
[Earnestly.] 

If  you  were  my  teacher,  I  think  I  could  learn 
anything. 

ANNABELLE 
[Giggles,  charmingly.] 


16  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

JIMMY 

[Embarrassed.] 
Really,  Annabelle .  .  . 

ANNABELLE 
What's  the  matter? 

JIMMY 

Ordinarily  I  wouldn't  mind  you're  flirting 
with  strangers,  but.  .  . 

ANNABELLE 
[Indignantly.] 
Jimmy!     How  can  you? 

THE   ANGEL 

It  was  my  fault,  I'm  sure — if  fault  there  was. 
But  what  is  it — to  flirt?  You  see,  I  wish  to 
learn  everything. 

ANNABELLE 
I  hope  you  never  learn  that. 

THE   ANGEL 

I  put  myself  in  your  hands. 
JIMMY 
Er — would  you  like  a — drink? 

THE  ANGEL 
Thank  you.     I  am  very  thirsty. 

[Taking  the  glass.] 

This  is  very  different  from  what  we  have  in 
Heaven. 

[He  tastes  it.    A  look  of  gratified  surprise  ap 
pears  on  his  face.] 
And  much  better! 

[He  drains  the  glass  and  hands  it  back.] 
May  I  have  some  more? 

ANNABELLE 
Be  careful! 


FLOYD   DELL  17 

THE   ANGEL 
What  should  I  be  careful  of? 

ANNABELLE 

Don't  take  too  much  of  that — if  it's  the  first 
time. 

THE  ANGEL 
Why  not?     It  is  an  excellent  drink. 

JIMMY 

[Laughing.] 

The  maternal  instinct!  She  is  afraid  you  may 
make  yourself — ridiculous. 

THE   ANGEL 
Angels  do  not  care  for  appearances. 

[He  stands  up  magnificently  in  the  chair,  tow 
ering  above  them.} 
Besides.  .  . 

[Refilling  his  glass.] 

I  feel  that  you  do  an  injustice  to  this  drink. 
Already  it  has  made  a  new  being  of  me. 

[He  looks  at  Annabelle.} 

I  feel  an  emotion  that  I  have  never  known 
before.  If  I  were  in  Heaven,  I  should  sing. 

ANNABELLE 
Oh!     Won't  you  sing? 

THE   ANGEL 

The  fact  is,  I  know  nothing  but  hymns.  And 
I'm  tired  of  them.  That  was  one  reason  why 
I  left  Heaven.  And  this  robe.  .  . 

[He  stands  up,  viewing  his  garment  with  dis 
approval.} 

Have  you  an  extra  suit  of  clothes  you  could 
lend  me? 

JIMMY 
[Reflectively.] 

Yes.  I  think  I  have  some  things  that  might 
fit. 


18  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

[The  Angel  waits.] 
Do  you  want  them  now?     I'll  look. 

[He  goes  into  the  bedroom.  The  Angel  looks 
at  Annabelle,  until  his  gaze  becomes  in 
supportable  and  she  covers  her  eyes. 
Then  he  comes  over  to  her  side.] 

THE   ANGEL 

\Gravely.] 
I  am  very  much  afraid  of  you. 

[He  takes  her  hands  in  his.] 
ANNABELLE 

[Smiling.] 
One  would  never  guess  it! 

THE   ANGEL 

I  am  more  afraid  of  you  than  I  was  of  God. 
But  even  though  I  fear  you,  I  must  come  close 
to  you,  and  touch  you.  The  strange,  new 
emotion  is  like  fire  in  my  veins.  This  world 
has  become  beautiful  to  me  because  you  are 
in  it.  I  want  to  stay  here  so  that  I  may  be 
with  you .  .  . 

ANNABELLE 

[Shaken,  but  doubting.] 
For  how  long?  ^ 

THE   ANGEL 
Forever.  . . 

ANNABELLE 

[In  his  arms,  surrendering  to  the  word.] 
Darling! 

THE  ANGEL 

I  am  so  ignorant!  There  is  something  I  want 
to  do  right  now,  only  I  do  not  know  how  to 
go  about  it  properly. 

[He  bends  shyly  toward  heflips.] 

ANNABELLE 
I  will  teach  you. 

[She  kisses  him.] 


FLOYD   DELL  19 

THE  ANGEL 
Heaven  was  nothing  to  this. 

[They  kiss  again.  Enter  Jimmy,  with  an  old 
suit  of  clothes  over  his  arm.  He  pauses 
in  dumbfounderment.  At  last  he  regains 
his  voice.] 

JIMMY 
Well! 

[They  look  up.  Neither  of  them  is  per 
turbed.] 

THE   ANGEL 
[Blandly.] 
Has  something  happened  to  annoy  you? 

[Jimmy  shakes  the  clothes  at  him  in  an  out 
raged  gesture.] 

Oh,  my  new  costume.     Thank  you  so  much! 
[He  takes  them  gratefully.] 

JIMMY 

[Bitterly,  to  Annabelle.] 

I  suppose  I've  no  right  to  complain.  You  can 
make  love  to  anybody  you  like.  In  fact,  now 
that  I  come  to  think  of  it,  I  predicted  this 
very  thing.  I  said  you'd  fall  in  love  with 
the  next  man  you  met.  So  it's  off  with  the 
old  love,  and.  .  . 

ANNABELLE 

[Calmly.] 
I  have  never  been  in  love  before. 

JIMMY 

The  fickleness  of  women  is  notorious.  It  is 
exceeded  only  by  their  mendacity.  But  An 
gels  have  up  to  this  time  stood  in  good  repute. 
Your  conduct,  sir,  is  scandalous.  I  am  amazed 
at  you. 


20  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

THE  ANGEL 

It  may  be  scandalous,  but  it  should  not  amaze 
you.  It  has  happened  too  often  before.  I 
could  quote  you  many  texts  from  learned 
theological  works.  "And  the  sons  of  God 
looked  at  the  daughters  of  men  and  saw  that 
they  were  fair."  But  even  if  it  were  as  un 
usual  as  you  imagine,  that  would  not  deter 
me. 

JIMMY 

You  are  an  unscrupulous  wretch.  If  these 
are  the  manners  of  Heaven,  I  am  glad  it  is 
so  far  away,  and  means  of  communication  so 
difficult.  A  few  more  of  you  would  corrupt 
the  morals  of  five  continents.  You  are  utterly 
depraved — Here!  What  are  you  doing? 

THE  ANGEL 

I  am  taking  off  my  robes,  so  as  to  put  on  my 
new  clothes. 

JIMMY 

Spare  the  common  decencies  at  least.  Go  in 
the  other  room. 

THE   ANGEL 
Certainly,  if  that  is  the  custom  here. 

[With  the  clothes  over  his  arm,  he  goes  into 
the  bedroom.] 

JIMMY 
[Sternly.] 

And  now  tell  me,  what  do  you  mean  by  this? 

ANNABELLE 

[Simply.] 

We  are  in  love. 

JIMMY 

Do  you  mean  to  say  you  would  throw  me  over 
for  that  fellow? 


FLOYD   DELL  21 

ANNABELLE 
Why  not? 

JIMMY 

What  good  is  he?  All  he  can  do  is  sing 
hymns.  In  three  months  he'll  be  a  tramp. 

ANNABELLE 

I  don't  care.  And  he  won't  be  a  tramp.  I'll 
look  after  him. 

JIMMY 

[Sneeringly.] 

The  maternal  instinct!  Well,  take  care  of 
him  if  you  like.  But  of  course  you  know  that 
in  six  weeks  he'll  fall  in  love  with  somebody 
else? 

ANNABELLE 

No  he  won't.  I'm  sure  that  I  am  the  only  girl 
in  the  world  to  him. 

JIMMY 

Of  course  you're  the  only  girl  in  the  world  to 
him — now.  You're  the  only  one  he's  ever 
seen.  But  wait  till  he  sees  the  others!  Six 
weeks?  On  second  thought  I  make  it  three 
days.  Immortal  love! 
[He  laughs.] 

ANNABELLE 

What  difference  does  it  make?  You  don't  un 
derstand.  Whether  it  lasts  a  day  or  a  year, 
while  it  lasts  it  will  be  immortal. 

[The  Angel  enters,  dressed  in  Jimmy's  old 
clothes,  and  carrying  his  wings  in  his 
hands.  He  seems  exhilarated.] 

THE   ANGEL 
How  do  I  look? 

JIMMY 

It  is  customary  to  wear  one's  tie  tucked  in 
side  the  vest. 


22  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

THE  ANGEL 

[Flinging  the  ends  of  the  gorgeous  necktie 

over  his  shoulder.] 

No!  Though  I  have  become  a  man,  I  do  not 
without  some  regret  put  on  the  dull  garb  of 
mortality.  I  would  not  have  my  form  lose  all 
its  original  brightness.  Even  so  it  is  the  ex 
cess  of  glory  obscured. 

ANNABELLE 

[Coming  over  to  him.] 
You  are  quite  right,  darling. 
[She  tucks  it  inside  his  vest.] 

THE   ANGEL 

Thank  you,  beloved.  And  now  these  wings! 
Take  them,  and  burn  them  with  your  own 
sweet  hands,  so  that  I  can  never  leave  you, 
even  if  I  would. 

ANNABELLE 

No!  I  would  rather  put  them  away  for  you 
in  a  closet,  so  that  you  can  go  and  look  at 
them  any  time  you  want  to,  and  see  that  you 
have  the  means  of  freedom  ready  to  your 
hand.  I  shall  never  hold  you  against  your 
will.  I  do  not  want  to  burn  your  wings.  I 
really  don't!  But  if  you  insist.  .  . ! 

[She    takes    the   wings   and   approaches    the 
grate.] 

JIMMY 

[To  the  Angel.] 

Don't  let  her  do  it!  Pool!  You  don't  know 
what  you  are  doing.  Listen  to  me!  You 
think  that  she  is  wonderful — superior — di 
vine.  It  is  only  natural.  There  are  moments 
when  I  have  thought  so  myself.  But  I  know 
why  I  thought  so,  and  you  have  yet  to  learn. 


FLOXD   DELL  23 

Keep  your  wings,  my  friend,  against  the  day 
of  your  awakening — the  day  when  the 
glamour  of  sex  has  vanished,  and  you  see  in 
her,  as  you  will  see,  an  inferior  being,  with  a 
weak  body,  a  stunted  mind,  devoid  of  creative 
power,  almost  devoid  of  imagination,  utterly 
lacking  in  critical  capacity — a  being  who  does 
not  know  how  to  work,  nor  how  to  talk,  nor 
even  how  to  play! 

[Annabelle,  putting  down  the  wings  beside  the 
grate,  stares  at  him  in  speechless  anger] 

THE   ANGEL 

Sir!  Do  you  refer  in  those  vulgar  and  insult 
ing  terms  to  the  companion  of  my  soul,  the 
desire  of  my  heart,  the  perfect  lover  whose 
lips  have  kindled  my  dull  sense  to  ecstacy? 

JIMMY 

I  do.  Remember  that  I  know  her  better  than 
you  do,  young  man.  Take  my  advice  and 
leave  her  alone.  Even  now  it  is  not  too  late! 
Save  yourself  from  this  folly  while  there  is 
time! 

THE  ANGEL 
Never! 

JIMMY 

Then  take  these  tickets  and  I  hope  I  never  see 
either  of  you  again! 

[He  holds  out  the  tickets.    Annabelle,  after 
a  pause,  steps  forward  and  takes  them.] 

ANNABELLE 
That  is  really  sweet  of  you,  Jimmy! 

[The  blast  of  an  auto  horn  is  heard  outside.] 

JIMMY 
[Bitterly.] 
And  there's  my  taxi.    Take  that,  too. 


24  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES 

THE   ANGEL 
Farewell! 

[He  opens  the  door.  Annabelle,  at  his  side, 
turns  and  blows  Jimmy  a  kiss.  Stonily 
Jimmy  watches  them  go  out.  Then  he 
picks  up  his  suitcase  and  goes,  with  an 
air  of  complete  finality,  into  the  other 
room.  There  is  a  moment's  silence,  and 
then  the  door  opens  softly,  and  the  Angel 
looks  in,  enters  surreptitiously,  seizes  up 
the  wings,  and  with  them  safely  clasped 
to  his  bosom,  vanishes  again  through  the 
door.] 

X 

CURTAIN. 


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